Guide lineholder for masons



Aug. 23, 1955 R. B. TAYLoR ET AL 2,715,777

GUIDE LINEHOLDER FOR MASONS Filed Aug. 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheetv l @d zzz/W am ATTaR/vgx Aug. 23, 1955 R. B. TAYLOR ETAL GUIDE LINEHOLDER FOR MASONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1954 ATTRNEX F Ice 2,715,711

Patented Aug. 23 1955 GUIDE LINEHLDER FOR MASONS Robert B. Taylor, Elmhurst, and Paul V. Johnson, Park Forest, lll., assignors to Structural Clay Products Research Foundation, Chicago, Ill., a trade association Application August 25, 1954, Serial No. 452,130

8 Claims. (Cl.V 33-85) This invention relates to guiding and aligning means for use by masons in the laying of bricks and the like in the construction of buildings, and more particularly this invention relates to an improved guide lineholder to be used in connection with a corner pole to facilitate and accelerate the laying of bricks in true horizontal courses.

There are many diiferent forms of masons aligning devices to increase the work output and accuracy of a mason, as well as to make it possible for unskilled workmen to accurately erect a wall of brick which is plumb and uniform. Most of the aligning devices available today, however, are either unnecessarily complicated and unwieldy to operate because they consist of a great number of workable parts which interferes with easy and efiicient operation of the devices or else they do not perform all of their intended functions. In addition, some of the masons guide lineholders have the disadvantage of being of such a construction as to require the crossing of guide lines which, of course, limits the movement and flexibility of the lineholders at a particular area of the Wall being constructed.

Our invention eliminates these disadvantages as Well as others, and contemplates the use of relatively few parts which are simple to construct and operate and inexpensive to manufacture. In this respect the lineholder base comprises a channel member which is bent at one end and terminates in a tip. Slideably mounted within the channel is a holding member having two spaced apart projecting bars substantially at each end thereof, one of said bars is provided with a single pad and the other bar with two pads. A pad is also mounted on the main body portion of the holding member. The pads are so arranged that they bear against four sides of a corner pole when the lineholder is in operation. Each of the pads on the bars is provided with thumb screws to secure the lineholder to the vertical corner pole when necessary. The holding member is also provided with a thumb screw which bears against the channel when necessary to lock the holding member to the channel member as desired.

The lineholders have been designed to be used with our new and novel form of corner pole which is the subject matter of another patent application. The corner pole is of such construction as to receive two lineholders comprising this invention in the same plane. This permits independent movement of the lineholders making it unnecessary to have a mason or masons wait for another or others to finish a course and allowing any wall of a building to be constructed at any desired rate. Because the channel member and holding member are moveable one to the other, the channel member may be moved towards or away from the foundation or building line to compensate for any difference in the position of the corner pole and the location of the Wall to be erected. For example, if the wall is to be erected two inches in from the outside edge of the foundation, the channel member is adjusted so that the lines carried by the lineholder will abut the outside edge of the wall to be erected. This results in increased accuracy in erecting the wall.

It is a general object of this invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved lineholder for masons guide lines which is adaptable for use on a corner pole.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lineholder of such a construction as to be independently moveable from a similar lineholder when two of them are mounted on a corner pole in the same plane.

Another object of this invention is the provision of slideable means on said lineholder to permit adjustment of the lineholder to the location of the wall being erected.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means for securing the lineholder to a corner pole while the lineholder is placed into operation and which means are inoperable during operation of the lineholder.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a lineholder which operates easily'and freely upon a corner pole during operation.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a schematic top plan View showing our new lineholder as it is placed upon a corner pole;

Figure 2 is a schematic top plan view showing the positioning of our lineholder upon a corner pole secured to a salient corner;

Figure 3 is a schematic top plan view showing our new lineholder upon a corner pole secured to a re-entrant corner;

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing our new lineholder;

Figure 5 is an elevational View taken of one end thereof;

Figure 6 is a side elevational View thereof; and

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7 7 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the letter L generally designates the new lineholder and the letter C generally indicates the corner pole to which the lineholder is best adapted. It is understood, of course, that the design and construction of the corner pole may vary without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Referring now to Figures 4 through 7 of the drawings, the lineholder L is shown to be essentially comprised of a channel member 1% and a holding member 12 which is slideably mounted within the channel 10. The channel 10 is preferably made from a light-gauge metal and the holding member 12 is preferably cast out of metal. The channel 16 consists of the usual side walls 14, bottom 16, and top 18 which preferably terminates in downturned retaining lips 26.

One end of the channel itl is bent inwardly substantially at a 45 angle as at 22. Secured as by a rivet 24 is a yoke 26 having cut-out portions 28 in the ends thereof. Of course, an extended yoke attached to one end of the channel lo may be used in lieu of bending the channel without departing from the scope of this invention.

Secured to the opposite end of the channel 1t), as by a rivet 32 or any other suitable means, is a lug 30 which is provided with a cleat 34 to secure guide lines which will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The holding member 12 is comprised of a main body section 36 having its bottom slideably mounted within the channel lil and a portion of its uppermost part extending beyond the lips 26 of the channel 10. A pad 38 is secured at right angles to the body member 36 as best seen in Figures 4 and 6 of the drawings. The positioning of the pad 38 is not critical except that it must be placed between the projecting bars 46 and 42 which form integral parts of the holding member 12. The bar 40 is preferably located a short distance from one end of the main body 36 of the holding member 12 while the projecting bar 42 is suitably located at the other end of the body section.

The bar 40 is provided with a pad 42 adjacent its outward extreme and at right angles thereto. A thumb screw 44 comprising the usual threaded shank 46 and turning means 48 passes through the bar 4t) and thepad 42, the function and purpose of which will be pointed out hereinafter. An elongated projection 50 is formed on the top of the bar 40 to serve as a pointer for properly aligning the lineholder on the corner pole.

The projection bar 42 is of an inverted L-shape and the shank 51 of the L is also provided with a pad 52 substantially in the same plane as the pad 42 and is also positioned at right angles to the bar 42. Similarly, a thumb screw 54 comprising the threaded shank 56 and turning means 58 passes through the bar 42 and the pad 5,2. The bar 42 above the pad 52 terminates in the leg 60 of the LV-shaped bar 42 and extends in a direction towards the projection bar 40. The leg 6i) is also provided with a pad 62 at its outermost end which is positioned at right angles to the leg 60. ThisV can best Vbe seen in Figure 6 of the drawings. The leg 60 is provided with an opening 64 into which is placed a nail 66 or anyV other similar object which may be used as a pointer when the lineholder is mounted on the corner pole.

The body member 36 is also provided with a threaded opening 68 in back of the projection bar 40 to reecive a thumb screw 70 having the usual threaded shank 72 and turning means 74. The purpose of the thumb screw is to lock or secure the holding member 12 to the channel member when no movement between the two parts is desired.

The lineholder L is best adapted to be used on a corner pole of the type shown in Figures 1 through 3 in the drawings. The corner pole is generally of a U- shape and comprises two 2 X 4 sections 76, a l x l section 78 which is interposed between the 2 X 4 sections 76 and at oneV end thereof. Sliding scales Si) are secured to either side of the l X Vl section 78.' Thus it can be seen that an open portion exists between the 2 x 4 sections 76 into which a portion of lthe lineholder Vis inserted as will be described. It is also to be understood that the above described dimensions may vary and still be useable with our lineholder.

- Operation TheY lineholder L is adapted to embrace one of the 2 x 4 sections of the corner pole C as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The leg 6i) having the pad 62 is inserted between the 2 X 4 sections 76 and then drawn back and around the open-face section of the 2 x 4 until the projection bar 40 and the pad 42 embrace the back side of the 2 X 4 section. When the lineholder is placed in this manner on one of the 2 x 4 sections, the thumb screws 44 and 54 are tightened to secure the lineholder L to the corner pole. As can be readily seen, the other 2 x 4 section 76 can support another lineholder in the same manner as that described.

After the lineholder or lineholders are thus secured to the corner pole, the guide line 82 is attached to the lineholder by running the guide line through the cut-out portionsZS-of the yoke 26. The line is then passed` around the rod 84 and secured to the cleat 34 at the end of the lineholder L. 1referably the guide line 82 is made of nylon or a similar resilient material. This enables the tension of the guide line, when secured between two lineholders, to maintain and retain thelineholder upon the corner pole without the use of the thumb screws 44 and 54 which are backed off and loosened after the guide line 82 is secured between the lineholders. This, of course, permits easy up and down movement of the guide lineholder during operation. Y

When the corner pole C is mounted at a salient corner; that is, a corner having the walls running in a direction away from the corner pole, the lineholder will be held Y upon the corner pole between pads 42, 38, and 62 because the tension of the guide line 82 will pull the lineholder in a direction away from the corner pole C as shown in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows a corner pole which is mounted at a re-entrant corner; that is, a corner whereV the walls of the building run in a direction towards the corner pole, and consequently because of the direction and tension of the guide line 82, the lineholder L is maintained and-secured to the corner pole C by the bearing contact ofthe pads 62, 52, and 38. Thus it can Vbe seen the frictional contact betweenrat least three of the pads Y bearing upon three sidesof the 2 X 4 section 76.

If the corner pole is secured some distance from where the building wall is to be erected, the channel member i0 may be slideably moved until the tip of the yoke 26.

is in close vertical alignment with the wall to be built.

Conversely, if the wall is too close to the corner pole,V the channel member 10 is drawn inward. Whenthe channel member 10 is properly positioned, the thumb screw 74 is secured in order to lock the channel member 10 to the body section 36 of the holding means 12.

As can be readily seen, the corner pole C is adapted to accommodate two lineholders in the same plane because each of the lineholders carries its own guide line. The guide lineholders may, therefore, be moved independently from each other and without interfering with the movement of the other guide line and guide lineholder. This is important where one side of a wallmay be erected at a greater rate of speed than another portion of a wall.

Thus, a new and improved type of guide lineholder for masons has been shown which is simple in construction and mode of operation. As has been shown, the improved guide lineholder is adjustable to the varying conditions found in the iield as to .where a corner pole can be secured and where a wall of a building is to be erected.

Additionally, the llineholder is readily slideable up and down the corner pole, without loosening or unfasteningV the lineholder as it is progressively raised or lowered, be-

cause the lineholder maintains three point Contact with three sides of the corner pole at all times.

While we have shown and described a specific embodiment of our invention, it will, of course, be understood that we do not wish to be limited thereto and that by the appended claims we intend to cover all modications and alternative constructions falling within the true spirit and scope of the claims.

We claim:

l. A guide lineholder yfor use in connection with a corner pole comprising, in combination, a channel member, a holding member slideably mounted in said channel member, said holding member having a C-shaped main body with two projecting bars extending outwardV therefrom, one of said bars having a pad thereon and the other of said bars having two pads thereon, securing means on each of Ysaid bars to releasably lock said lineholder to a corner pole and means on said main body to releasably lock said holding member to said channel member. Y

2. A guide lineholder for use in connection with a corner pole comprising a channel member, a holding member slideably mounted in said channel member, said holding member being characterized by a main body having two projecting hars in `spaced-apart relationship extending outward therefrom, one of said bars having a pad thereon to frictionally engage one side of a corner pole and the other of said bars having two pads thereon to frictionally engage two other sides of the corner pole, securing means on each of said bars to releasably lock said lineholder to a cornerpole, and means on said main body to releasably lock said holding member to said channel member.

3. A guide lineholder for use in connection with a corner pole comprising a channel member, a holding member slideably mounted in said channel member, said holding member having a main body, a pad on the main body of the holding member, two projecting bars eX- tending outward therefrom, one of said bars having a pad thereon and the other of said bars having two pads thereon, securing means on each of said bars to releasably lock said lineholder to a corner pole and means on said main body to releasably lock said holding member to said channel member.

4. A guide lineholder for use in connection with a corner pole comprising, in combination, a channel member, a holding member slideably mounted in said chaniel member, said holding member comprising a main body having a pad therein, two projecting bars in spacedapart relationship extending outward therefrom, one of said bars having a pad thereon to frictionally engage one side of a corner pole and the other of said bars having two pads thereon to frictionally engage two other sides of the corner pole, securing means on each of said bars to releasably lock said lineholder to a corner pole, and means on said main body to releasably lock said holding member to said channel member.

5. A guide lineholder for use in connection with a four-sided corner pole comprising, in combination an elongated channel member having one of its ends bent inwardly at substautialiy a forty-five degree angle, a holding member slideabiy mounte in said channel member, said holding member having a main body, two projecting bars extending outward from the main body, one of said bars having a pad thereon and the other of said bars having two pads thereon, securing means on each of said bars to releasably lock said lineholder to a corner pole, and means on said main body to releasably lock said holding member to said channel member.

6. A guide lineholder for use in connection with a four-sided corner pole comprising in combination an elongated channel having one of its ends bent inwardly at substantially a forty-tive degree angle, a holding member slideably mounted in said channel member, said holding member being characterized by a main body having a pad therein, two projecting bars in spacedapart relationship extending outward therefrom, one of said bars having a pad thereon to frictionally engage one side of a corner pole and the other of said bars having two pads thereon to frictionally engage two other sides of the corner pole, securing means on each of said bars to releasably lock said lineholder to a corner pole,

and means on said main body to releasably lock said holding member to said channel member.

7. A guideline holder for use with a corner pole having a rectangular section guideline holder mounting portion, the guideline holder being characterized by a C shaped corner pole grip, inwardlyfacing pads integral with the grip, the faces of each pad being perpendicular to the face of another pad, a guideline carrier having an elongate body terminating in a line guide, cooperating sliding means permitting the pole grip to selectively slide along the guideline carrier, a guideline, and means associated with the grip for temporarily tacking the guideline holder grip to the corner pole until the guideline has been tautly secured whereupon the grip is held to the corner pole by the tension in the guideline and the guideline holder may be raised or lowered by the user to any preselected elevation.

8. A guideline holder for use with a masons corner pole having a U shaped cross section and a coursing scale at the base leg of the U, and a guideline, the guideline holder being characterized by an elongate channeled body, a leg at the end of the body at 45 with the body, a guideline yoke at the end of the angled leg with guideline datum means, a C shaped corner pole grip, the back of which is proportioned for a sliding tit with the channeled body, four pads integral with the clamp having faces proportioned and oriented to engage the side legs of the U shaped corner pole, means for removably locking the grip to the corner pole, aligning means on the grip for correlating its location with the coursing scale on the corner pole, means selectively locking the grip to the channeled body permitting adjustment of the location of the guideline datum means with relation to the corner pole, and guideline securing means translating the ten4 sion in the positioned guideline into reactive forces between the pad faces and the corner pole thereby frictionally securing the guideline holder to the corner pole to facilitate orientation as an associated masonry wall is erected.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 995,714 Platt .Tune 20, 1911 1,193,665 Coburn Aug. 8, 1916 1,751,119 Williams Mar. 18, 1930 1,872,860 Winter Aug. 23, 1932 2,096,687 Roberts Oct. 19, 1937 2,655,078 Gunther Oct. 13, 1953 

